Wall construction



Defi 1936- c. F. NEERGAARb 2,053,115

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed March 29, 1935 INVENTOR J1 OVA/P155 fA/fER/PA/PD ATTO RN EY Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE7 Claims.

This invention relates to wall structures, and more particularly to wallstructures for use in maritime vessels. It is desirable in suchstructures to provide a wall which is somewhat flexible so that it isnot disintegrated by distorting strains. It is also desirable to providea wall which may be thin and yet be sound-proof and fire-proof. It isalso desirable that the wall structure be capable of some distortionwhen being erected so as to enable it to be conformed to curved orirregular surfaces, as where the wall is applied adjacent the side of avessel.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention involves aconstruction having all of these desirable characteristics and havingthe further advantage of economy of manufacture and facility'ofinstallation. In the preferred embodiment another advantage realized isthat moldings or fittings can be applied securely to the wall in anylocation desired.

In accomplishing these ends it is a feature of the invention that use ismade of an internal metallic supporting member in the form of acontinuous zigzag sheet of flexible metal, the metal being formed toprovide a multiplicity of supporting surfaces disposed in two parallelplanes, and successive surface supporting sections in each plane beingconnected through divergent web sections and through a supportingsurface section of the other plane. The successive surface sections ineach plane are disposed out of contact with one another but close enoughtogether to substantially close the space bounded by the sections whichconnect them. By virtue of. this arrangement a flexible and elasticsupporting core is provided for the wall and the interior of the wall isdivided into a succession of distinct polygonal spaces which aredesirably filled with a suitable sound-proof and fire-proof materialsuch as loose asbestos wool or like packing.

It is a further feature of the invention that the core or supportingmember thus provided is ing member has been erected and secured in pace.

The invention is not limited, however, to use on ship board nornecessarily to the requirement of great flexibility. Where a supportingmember of the kind indicated is employed in land structures the metalemployed may be of heavier gauge and may be perforated at various pointsto afford interlocks for supporting plaster applied in plasticcondition.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification and illustratingcertain preferred embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a wall sectionembodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified form ofwall structure, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view illustrating a furthermodified form of wall structure.

In Figure 1 the wall comprises a supporting member I which consists of acontinuous sheet of flexible metal. The supporting member I is made inzigzag form to provide a series of coplanar surface supporting webs orsections 2 at one side of the wall and a series of co-planar surfacesupporting webs or sections 3 at the opposite side of..the wall.Adjacent sections 3 are connected to one another through divergentconnecting webs or sections 4 which extend transversely of the wall andcontrol the thickness thereof, and through the intervening oroverlapping section 2 at the opposite side of the wall. Adjacentsections 2 are similarly connected through divergent webs or sections 4and through the intervening or overlapping section 3 at the oppositeside.

The adjacent sections on each side are out of contact with one anotherbut they are located close enough together to substantially close thespace bounded by the connecting webs and intervening surface section ofthe opposite well. By virtue of this arrangement a wall support isprovided which is flexible and elastic and at the same time deformableto produce a desired contour other than a flat contour. The interior ofthe support is divided by the transverse webs into a series ofsubstantially triangular sections adapted to receive a loose filling orpacking material. The division of the wall support into pockets orcells, enables loose packing material to be used since the packinginserted in each pocket and fire proof. A suitable filling for thepurpose is asbestos wool or other like material. Such material is alsovery effective as a heat insulator.

After the supporting member has been erected in place surfacing sheetsfi are desirably applied to opposite sides of the support, the finishedstructure being adapted for use as a partition between adjacent rooms.Where one side of the supporting structure is used as a back forattachment to an external wall the surfacing sheet at that side is, ofcourse, omitted. If desired, the wall structure may be prefabricated inpanels of convenient size.

The surfacing sheet is desirably composed of asbestos fibres heldtogether by a suitable binder and treated in any manner found desirablefor making it attractive in appearance. Any other suitable type ofsurfacing material may be employed. The surfacing material referred tois very effective for rendering the wall or partition fire proof and forheat insulating purposes.

The surfacing sheet is .adhesively united to the supporting member I byasuitable cement I which, in the spaces between adjacent sections 2 oradjacent sections 3, forms an interlock 8.

The fact that the core portion of the partition consists exclusively ofvertically extending members enables water pipes such as 9 andelectrical conduits such as It] to be installed with great facility.

Provision is made for uniting successive supporting sections I to oneanother readily. To this end each section may be provided at one endwith a web I I adapted to be inserted between adjacent webs 4 of anothersection and interlocked between said webs. The web II is offset inwardfromthe surface plane at the side of the supporting member at which itis located, and

- is broad enough to require that the webs 4 between which it isinserted shall be sprung apart to receiveit. In case surfacing sheets ofprecut size are employed, care should be taken that the joint betweenadjacent sheets is laterally spaced from the joints, as 8 and I I in thewebs I.

The embodiment of Figure 2 is generally similar to that of Figure l, andhence will not be described in detail as to corresponding parts.Corresponding parts have been designated by the same reference numeralsused inlFigure 1 with the subscript a added. In the embodiment of Figure2 advantage is taken of the fact that the supporting member is formed ofsheet metal and provision is made for securing the surface sheets to tothe webs 3a and 4a in a very convenient and effective manner .which doesnot necessitate any prearrangement of either the surface or supportingmembers. This is accomplished by using screws Ila of the type known asParker-Kalon self tapping screws for attaching the surface members tothe supporting member. These screws have the contour of ordinary woodscrews but are case hardened so that they are capable of cutting theirown threads in sheet metal of the hardness of soft iron or soft steel.The hole for one of these screws is prepared by means of a prick punchhaving a cylindrical shank. The punch may be driven through the surfacemember 6a and then through the web 241 or in in any location desired. A

hardened screw is then inserted and threaded home. The construction thusprovided is especially useful on shipboard because the union effectedbetween the sheet metal supporting member and the screw is vibrationproof.

Moldings, panels or fittings may be secured to the wall in any locationdesired in a similar manner. v

- The construction of Figure 3 is generally similar to the constructionalready described. It is primarily designed, however, for use in' landbuildings and it is not, therefore. required to be particularlyflexible. A supporting member lb is employed, generally similar. to thesupporting member I of Figure 1 although it may be of heavier gaugemetal if desired. The supporting member lb is provided with perforationsI2, and plaster I3 is applied in a plastic state. The plaster penetratesthe perforations I2 and also the spaces between adjacent supportingsections 2b and between adjacent supporting sections 3b to forminterlocking keys with the supporting member. I i

- vergent web sections and through a supporting surface section of theother plane, said metal sheet having along one of its terminal edges abent portion adapted-to enter a space formed by converging walls in anadjoining similar zigzag sheet-metal member and form therewith aninterlocking connection between said adjoining members whereby said wallor partition may be fabricated to an indefinite extent.

2. An internal supporting member for use in walls or partitionscomprising a continuous zigzag sheet of flexible metal formed to providea multiplicity of supporting surfaces disposed in two parallel planesthe successive surface sections in each plane being connected throughdivergent web sections and through a supporting surface section of theother plane, the successive surface sections in each plane beingdisposed out of contact with one another but close enough together tosubstantially close the space bounded by the sections which connectthem, said member constituting the chief structural element to encloseand support a series of masses of flocculent insulating material havinglittle structural strength.

3. An internal supporting member for walls or partitions comprising acontinuous sheet metal member formed to provide alternate supportingsections for opposite wall surfaces, the adjacent sections on one sidebeing disposed out of contact but near enough together to substantiallyclose the space between them, thereby forming adjacent upright cellsadapted to receive prisms of flocculent material deriving their lateralsupport from walls constituted by said continuous sheetmetal chamber.

4. In an upright wall structure, in combination, an internal supportingmember comprising a continuous zigzag sheet of flexible metal formed tovide a multiplicity of successive supporting surfaces disposed in twoparallel planes, the sucprovide a multiplicity of successive supportingsurfaces disposed in two parallel planes, the successive surfacesections in each plane being connected through I divergent web sectionsand through a supporting surface section of the other plane, thesuccessive surface sections in each plane being disposed out of contactwith one.

another but close enough together to substantially close the spacebounded by the sections which connect them and a loose packing of sounddeadening material disposed in said space.

5. In a wall structure, in combination, an internal supportingmembercomprising a continuous zigzag sheet of flexible metal formed to providea multiplicity of successive supporting surfaces disposed in twoparallel planes, the successive surface sections in each plane beingcon,- nected through divergent web sections and through a supportingsurface section of the other plane, the successive surface sections ineach plane being disposed out of contact with one another but closeenough together to substantially close the space bounded by the sectionswhich connect them, and a flexible surface coating of cementitiousmaterial secured to a face of said supporting member 6. In a wallstructure, in combination, an inteinal supporting member comprising acontinuous zigzag sheet of flexible metal formed to processive surfacesections in each plane being connected through divergent web sectionsand through a supporting surface section of the other plane, thesuccessive surface sections in each plane being disposed out of contactwith one another but-close enough together to substantially close thespacebounded by the sections which connect them, a flexible surfacesheeting applied to a face of said supporting member, and cement unitingthesheeting to the member, the cement forming interlocks with thesupporting member in the spaces between successive surface sections.

7. In a wall structure, in combination, an internal supporting membercomprising a continuous zigzag sheet of flexible metal formed to providea multiplicity of successive supporting sur faces disposed in twoparallel planes, the successive surface sections in each plane beingconnected v through divergent web sections and through a supportingsurface section of 'the applied to a face of the supporting member, and

hardened screws tapped in the said sheet metal supporting member. p

CHARLES F. NEERGAARD.

